I thought you might be interested in this tidbit. It was in Friday's Globe and Mail by Jan Melnyk.

Here is the important part: "My co-worker told a story at work about her aunt. Here's how it goes:

Many years ago, her aunt was walking through an English public garden when a man approached her. "Do you have the time? he asked. She looked at her watch but he shook his head. "No, do you have the time to sit and talk?" he asked politely. They sat on a bench among the flowers while he talked about his life and asked about hers. She was very young, and he was very old.

She listened as he related the events of his youth and the wars he had lived through. He told her of his hopes for the human race. One thing he didn't tell her about was his accomplishments. He had penned The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The man was J.R.R. Tolkien.

What a great listen. I reeled in awe as my friend finished her delightful story."

The rest of the article goes on about storytelling. What a lucky woman her friend's aunt was. Imagine being able to have that kind of discussion with the Master. Wow. That would have been a life experience for me. Anyways, I thought you might be interested.

Tehanu has poped up again for her 3rd report on the goings on down south. This time she has news on Uruk-Hai Orcs, Legolas, Liv and more! Plus you take take a ganer at Xtem's latest news concerning the filming schedule and a rumor about Liv and moss, the mouldy kind. Check it out in The Spy Reports.

Dungeons and Dragons director Corey Solomon has read and heard all those rumblings that his film is only hoping to catch the wave of enthusiasm fans are generating for New Line’s currently in production Lord of the Rings trilogy. While talking to the the Dungeons and Dragons Movie fan website, the director dismisses such talk, saying, "I have read a bunch of the rumors about D&D trying to ride on the coat tails of LOTR. To clarify this issue, that is not the case. We have been working on D&D since 1991. It just took a long time to do for various reasons, the main one being that Hollywood is not favorable about the fantasy genre. Our whole concept with D&D was to bring a new face to fantasy through the film. Definitely, it is not like any fantasy movie we have seen before."

Filming has just begun on the Hinuera set of the Lord of the Ring' Hobbiton.

And after problems down south (flooding - Xo) things could not be looking better, says second unit producer Rick Porras, pictured above on location.

Mr Porras works with known Hollywood name Bob Zemekis who is perhaps best known for his part in bringing 'Who Framed Rodger Rabbit' to life, and being excutive producer on 'The Frighteners'.

"but this is the greatest production I've been in, it's a real opportunity to be working on this movie," says Mr Porras whose own credits include 'Forrest Gump', 'The Frighteners' and 'Contact', with Jodie Foster.

The second unit's job is to get the feeling of where the hobbits live, the friendly warmth of the scenes and so on, he says.

"The tight green hills here are perfect - you can just imagine other Hobbits and Hobbit houses just over the next hill," says Mr. Porras, "We have timed shooting perfectly, with brilliant weather overhead, but beautiful, lush grass."

The shots may be wide and work with 120 extras - the first unit crew will film individuals - but the film crew is working to a tight shot book.

The Hinuera film site, as were all that are used in the movie, was found by a scout who travelled the country talking to locals and searching for the perfect spot.

But while the magic is being captured on film, the long length of time spent on preperation for film will not be so easily recognised, says Mr. Porass.

"The two movies, Back to the Future parts II and III were filmed back to back, which was seen as a big undertaking, but I arrived here in May last year to start over a year's preperation," he says.

The Lord of the Rings is the first Hollywood production to film three movies back to back, says Mr Porras.

Unfortunately, parts of the preperation were swept away while the film was recently filmed around Queenstown.

"I was in Wanaka at the time and it set some filming back," says Mr. Porras, "I think it was an all-time record rainfall while we were there, and Te Anau was similar."

But judging by the film's special effects, such concerns should not bother, he says.

"The Special effects work being done at WETA Studios (the film's base in Wellington) is amazing."

"Peter Jackson (LOTR Producer, Director, and driving force) and Fran (Jackson's partner and co-worker) are amazing to watch working and they are nice people too," says Mr. Porras, "When these movies are over he'll be satisfied, it'll be his life's work."

After a Christmas break, the first film unit will return to Hobbiton early next year, and more extras will be involved at that date.

Tehanu's adventures in the South island continue. She reports back with some great images to think about in your mind's eye:

"I saw a great picture taken from the air by the local paper, Mountain Scene. They're not willing to part with it though. The image they have is of the top of some grand stone building with huge statuary on it. [More]

Well, we don't know who it is yet. But the winner in the HMCo and New Line Cinemas, "Win a Trip to Middle Earth" contest, will be announced the week of January 24. According to Shere Thomas, Administrative Coordinator

Super Ringer Spy Eriol managed to get yours truly an interview with the President and CEO of 'NeoPlanet' Drew Cohen. NeoPlanet is the web design company that is doing the work for the Official Site (got a job for poor ol' Xoanon here?) Check out what he has to say!

Xoanon: What do you do at Neoplanet?

Neoplanet: I am the President & CEO

X: When were you approached by New Line?

NP: I sought New Line out for Austin Powers - LOTR is follow-up work based on the success NeoPlanet/New Line had together with Austin

X: Are you a LOTR fan?

NP: I am a huge fan. I read Tolkien first back in Junior High (1974). I have re-read the books avery few years since. I can't think of a better project to be associated with.

X: How many people are working on the site?

NP: New Line has a couple, plus NeoPlanet has about 3 full-time and another 6 part time depending on the specific tasks.

NP: He get's approval of everything. Mostly we've been giving him things to look at and get back to us on, but he's so into the site that he is starting to take a more proactive role.

X: Are you planning on doing anything special with TheOneRing.net?

NP: Our plans include the following:

Feature Fan sites on the official site
Create permanent links in the LOTR version of NeoPlanet to fan sites. Right now TheOneRing.net is considered the leading fan site, but New Line is the official source for which fan sites gets featured.

X: Are you willing to do these Q & A things on a regular basis?

NP: Yes

X: What other movie sites have you done?

NP: Austin Powers, Final Destination (NeoPlanet is actually used as the browser in the movie), also NeoPlanet is on the Astronaut's Wife DVD and the LOTR version will be on upcoming New Line DVD's. Look for more soon.

A 28-year-old man was injured in an accident on the site of the Lord Of The Rings Film set in a quarry at the foot of Haywards Hill, Lower Hutt, this morning. Wellington Free Ambulance said the man, who was on a bike, fell into a stream after a road collapsed. The man was taken to Hutt Hospital with moderate ankle and shoulder injuries.

Tehanu has taken human form again and has gone tramping (NZ slang for hiking) down and around the south island. This is what she has for you:

We started our adventures by climbing to Mt. Owen, in the top of the South Island. It only took about two days to get to where we could see the Owen massif peaks all around us, covered in golden tussock. Fantastic views. Nice to know that PJ and the crew got up here by helicopter in about ten minutes. [MORE]

Filming of the $360 million Lord of the Rings movie trilogy - based on the novels by J. R. R Tolkien and directed by Wellington's Peter Jackson - has been taking place in and around Queenstown during the past month.

However, filming will break next week for Christmas and will not continue at the Southern Lakes until the middle of next year.

Film crews spent much of this week shooting scenes near Glenorchy. Scenes have also been shot near Te Anau, Tarras and Queenstown.

Publicist Claire Raskind said filming had gone well, despite the setbacks suffered when several sets were washed away during last month's record rainfall and flooding.

Good weather had allowed crews to catch up on time lost during the floods, she said.

More than 400 people have been employed by the Lord of the Rings producers since filming began in Wellington several months ago.

Ringer Spy Gloin fills us in on the auction action that when down today (Sunday) in New Zealand.

The Queenstown celebrity auction has just finished, with the only LoTR item there being sold at the end of the day. All international bids were refused, owing to the local Queenstown nature of messages written by cast and crew (eg from PJ "Queenstown truly is Middle-Earth"). All the Actors currently in Queenstown signed the book, as well as all top crew members. The book sold for $NZ2500.

Found an couple of shots from the Fjord scene featuring Arwen and the nazgul. This came from aussie Woman's Day mag (Dec 13 version). This one really spells out Arwens role. The dummy gives you an idea how they'll handle those shots and you have to admit that Tyler looks alright even without full makeup. :)

I find this rather fascinating, a small, independant company wanting to do a LOTR project, very very interesting I wish I was in LA to take part in it! (hint to all Montrealers out there, lets get together and start a project of our own) here is what Elemental Films sent me:

Just to let you know we're beginning the initial stages of preproduction on "Elessar," the temporary title of the Aragorn / Arwen film short.

Right now we're revising the final drafts of the script and arranging necessary copyright and licensing fees; production will most likely begin somewhere from the end of December to the beginning of January.

An official site for the project will be up and running as soon as possible, where production stills, storyboards, and quicktime clips will become available when ready. Thank you for your interest in the project, and much luck to you.